The short answer
VA's Community Care Network is split into five regions. Optum manages Regions 1, 2, and 3, and TriWest manages Regions 4 and 5. They build the provider network and process provider claims for VA. VA still decides whether you qualify and approves your care. VA is moving to new network contracts, so check VA's CCN page for changes.
What are the CCN regions?
VA splits its Community Care Network (CCN) into five regions. A third-party administrator (a company that runs the network for VA) manages each one. According to VA's CCN page, last updated July 2026:
| Region | States and territories | Administrator | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, VT, VA, WV | Optum | 888-901-7407 |
| 2 | IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI | Optum | 844-839-6108 |
| 3 | AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, OK, SC, TN, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands | Optum | 888-901-6613 |
| 4 | AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands | TriWest | 877-226-8749 |
| 5 | AK | TriWest | 877-226-8749 |
Your region is based on where you get care, which is usually where you live.
What do Optum and TriWest do?
They run the network side for VA. That includes:
- signing up community providers and keeping the network directory;
- processing claims from network providers and paying them;
- answering provider questions about claims and network rules; and
- handling the VA urgent care benefit's eligibility checks at clinics.
What don't they do?
They don't decide whether you qualify for Community Care, and they don't approve your care. Your VA facility's Community Care office does that. If you have a question about eligibility, a referral, or your authorization, start with VA, not Optum or TriWest.
A simple rule:
- Questions about you (Do I qualify? Is my referral approved? How many visits do I have?): your VA Community Care office.
- Questions about the provider or a claim (Is this office in network? Why wasn't the provider paid?): your region's administrator.
- A bill you received for authorized care: VA's Community Care contact center at 877-881-7618. See What to Do If You Get a Bill for Authorized Community Care.
Why does my region matter?
Because each administrator has its own phone numbers, claim addresses, and provider rules. A few examples:
- Urgent care eligibility lines differ. VA's provider page lists 888-901-6609 for Optum regions and a TriWest line for Regions 4 and 5.
- Pharmacy billing differs. Urgent care prescriptions in Optum regions and TriWest regions run through different pharmacy processors.
- Paper claim addresses differ by administrator.
If you move to a different region, your providers and contacts may change. See Moving With VA Health Care.
Is the CCN changing?
Yes. VA has started replacing the current CCN contracts with a new round of contracts that use fewer, larger regions. Until the new contracts take effect, the five regions and their administrators stay in place. VA says Community Care will continue during the change.
If you're in the middle of treatment, your authorization comes from VA, not the administrator. A change in administrator shouldn't by itself end an active authorization, but check with your Community Care office if your provider tells you something has changed.
Does every Community Care provider go through Optum or TriWest?
No. When no network provider can meet a Veteran's needs, VA can use a direct Veterans Care Agreement with a provider. Those providers bill VA directly. See What Is a Veterans Care Agreement?